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Bebop Spoken There

Stan Woodward: ''We're part of the British jazz scene, but we don't play London jazz. We play Newcastle jazz. The Knats album represents many things, but most importantly that Newcastle isn't overlooked". (DownBeat, April 2025).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

17904 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 225 of them this year alone and, so far, 72 this month (March 24).

From This Moment On ...

MARCH 2025.

Thu 27: Hannabiell & Midnight Blue @ King’s Hall, Newcastle University. 1:15pm. Free.
Thu 27: Michael Littlefield & Scott Taylor @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb blues duo.

Fri 28: Giles Strong Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm. £8.00 SOLD OUT!.
Fri 28: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 28: Spilt Milk @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Fri 28: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. 7:30pm (doors). £8.00.
Fri 28: Pete Tanton’s Chet Set @ Old Cinema Laundrette, Durham. 7:45pm.
Fri 28: Sue Ferris Quintet @ Traveller’s Rest, Darlington. 8:00pm. £10.00. Opus 4 Jazz Club.
Fri 28: Mostly Moonlight @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Fri 28: Juliana Day & Manon McCoy @ Cumberland Arms, Byker, Newcastle. 8:00pm. £12.00.; £10.00. advance. JNE.

Sat 29: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 29: Doris Day Story @ Phoenix Theatre, Blyth. 7:30pm.
Sat 29: Squabble! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Sun 30: Jan Spencelayh & Dave Archbold @ Jackson’s Wharf, Hartlepool. 1:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Paul Skerritt @ Hibou Blanc, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free. Vocalist Skerritt working with backing tapes.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 3:00pm.
Sun 30: Ruth Lambert Trio @ The Juke Shed, Union Quay, North Shields. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 30: Jazz Jam Sandwich! @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 30: Jamil Sheriff Trio w. Nadim Teimoori @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 31: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

APRIL 2025

Tue 01: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Joe Steels, Paul Grainger, Mark Robertson.
Tue 01: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, North St., Ferryhill DL17 8HX. 7:30pm. Free.

Wed 02: Lauren Bush: The Jazz Singer’s Toolkit @ The Pele, Corbridge. 1:00-4:00pm. Vocalist Lauren Bush with pianist Jamil Sheriff presents a jazz singing workshop. £40.00. (inc. evening concert, see below). Registration required for workshop: www.laurenbushjazz.com. All ability levels welcome.
Wed 02: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 02: Jason Isaacs @ St. James’ STACK, Newcastle. 2:30-4:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Wed 02: Lauren Bush & Jamil Sheriff @ The Pele, Corbridge. 7:00-9:00pm. £10.00. Concert performance. Tickets: www.laurenbushjazz.com.
Wed 02: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 02: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. POSSIBLE CANCELLATION. See website for updates: www.theglobenewcastle.bar.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Eliot Smith Dance: Triple Bill @ Sage Gateshead - Nov 27

(Review by Russell)

Bebop Spoken Here is up for most things and an evening of contemporary dance at Sage Gateshead held few fears. The main attraction for this jazz blog was the world premiere of Jason Holcomb's commissioned piece titled Sacrification for choreographer Eliot Smith's Poppy

The five-strong troupe - two female dancers and three male dancers including Smith - took to the stage in a darkened Sage Two daubed in the filth and mud of WWI trenches. Barefoot, the Eliot Smith dancers moved across a poppy-strewn field/stage as the first notes of Jason Holcomb's trombone rang out across the auditorium. Dressed in black and fitted with a radio mic, Holcomb moved around the hall, first one side then another, continuing to play as he exited one door, reappearing seconds later on an upper level, all the while the on-stage dancers reacting to the trombonist's composition. 


The commissioned work for trombone ensemble and percussion took the form of Holcomb's solo performance integrating with pre-recorded multi-tracked trombone and percussion parts emanating from stage-side speakers. 

Jazz content was, effectively, absent from Holcomb's piece. At its conclusion Sage Two's audience responded with enthusiastic applause as Holcomb and Smith's troupe took a collective bow. 

Earlier, Eliot Smith Dance performed two pieces; Froth on the Daydream (choreography Mathieu Geffré) and Artemis Clown (choreography Rosie Kay). Froth on the Daydream featured, in part, a jazz soundtrack. First Duke Ellington, then Louis Armstrong playing and singing La Vie en Rose. Unexpected, but very much a jazz bonus!

Artemis Clown for solo dancer (Gemma Paganelli) highlighted the physical nature of contemporary dance. Every breath, every strained sinew, laid bare in a captivating 16 minutes. 
(Russell)
Jason Holcomb - composer, trombone


Eliot Smith Dance: Eliot Smith, Giacomo Pini, Paloma Galiana Moscardo, April Martin, Gemma Paganelli, Niall Tyzack-Carlin (dancers), Eliot Smith, Mathiey Geffré, Rosie Kay (choreography). 

1 comment :

Jason Holcomb (on F/b). said...

Thanks so much for coming to the performance!!! I had no idea you were there, apologies I didn't get to say hello...next time let me know you're coming and I'll try to sort some comp tickets for you :) Thanks again!!

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